Unite calling note: Rally at National Express Group’s...

Unite calling note: Rally at National Express Group’s AGM over US ‘human rights’ record

13 May 2014

Shareholders in National Express Group PLC are being asked to back a resolution that would fundamentally improve the company’s employment policies and practices at its AGM in Birmingham tomorrow (Wednesday 14 May).

The US-based International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Unite, the country’s largest union, will be holding a press briefing with Teamsters’ general president Jim Hoffa and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey who will be available for interview before the AGM.

Where: outside the AGM which is being held at Hall 5, International Convention Centre (ICC), Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA
When: between 13.00 - 14.00 on Wednesday 14 May. The AGM runs between 14.00 - 17.00

Shareholders are being asked to back a group of UK local authority pension funds, the Teamsters and more than 100 individual investors who sponsored the resolution and are calling on the board to finally address “systemic and longstanding” issues in the way it treats its staff in North America.

The three local authority pension funds are the Greater Manchester pension fund, which holds a 2.5 per cent stake in the National Express Group, Islington and Nottinghamshire County Council.

They are co-sponsoring a resolution that calls for changes to the UK-listed firm’s policies. The group employs more than 35,000 staff worldwide.

It calls for the company’s board to “expand the role and responsibilities of its safety and environment committee” and adopt a “meaningful and enforceable” human rights policy.

The company has been the recipient of many US National Labor Relations Board complaints and charges that raised concerns about unlawful terminations, surveillance, retribution and disparate treatment of its employees who supported unions.

• Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hard working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on facebook.